Armed militia storm council meeting after right-wing anger over Muslim plan for mosque
PLANS to build a mosque and Islamic school in a small town in America have been thrown into disarray after a gang of angry citizens stormed a meeting with guns.
Armed protestors in Newton County rally against mosque
Local armed militia in a small US town forced a council meeting to be cancelled following growing security concerns over their presence.
The violent group of right-wing protesters carried guns into a local square to demonstrate against "the presence of Muslims" in the country
The meeting, which was expected to lift a ban on new places of worship, was called off amid growing tensions in Newton County, Georgia.
Five weeks ago a local Muslim group laid out construction plans for an Islamic cemetery, mosque and school - but it was met with anger from a loud minority of the town.
Militia plans armed protest in Newton over mosque
Several members of the so-called right-wing Georgia Security Force III% (GSF) posted a video on the weekend showing them trespass onto the site of the proposed cemetery and mosque school.
One member of the militia climbed a tree to hang an American flag on the property where the mosque would be built.
The group, led by local resident Chris Hill, is now under investigation from Homeland Security and local law enforcement.
Newton County manager Lloyd Kerr said the group were "exhibiting harassing or violent behavior".
She added: "Unfortunately, in today’s society, uncivil threats or intentions must be taken seriously."
Following this, nearly 30 members of the armed militia stormed the local town centre armed with machine guns, forcing the mosque meeting to be cancelled.
There’s nothing American about this
Members of the Newton County community have largely been divided over the mosque proposal.
A local imam said "Islamophobic" public meetings had revealed a dark side of the small town.
Edward Ahmed Mitchell, from the local Georgia Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), said: "County leaders shouldn’t allow themselves to be bullied into canceling a public meeting on a controversial issue."
Mr Mitchell said that rumours about the mosque being used as a cover for "an ISIS training ground" have been used to attack the plans.
He added: "A small group of anti-Muslim extremists were able to frighten a government body into canceling a public meeting.
"That sends a dangerous message about the power of fringe extremists to affect elected officials.
"If American Muslims can stand up to these threats every day that we walk out of our houses, then a small group of elected officials can do the same thing.”
Hundreds rally against planned mosque in Pisa, Italy
One protester Jim Stachowiak told an audience of reporters: “It’s a declaration of war against United States of America. Their ultimate goal is to impose Sharia law.”
Philip Morris added: "The Koran is nothing but hate speech."
Mr Hill, the gang's leader, who calls himself a "commanding officer" of the militia, added: "We're not here to intimidate. You're just seeing two different rights being exercised at the same time."
Crowds spill over onto street for town meeting on mosque
One local resident among the peaceful counter-protesters at the town centre hit back. said: "I am personally Christian and we believe defending other people’s right to worship will keep our right to worship safe as well."
Another counter-protester Linda Allen added: "There’s nothing American about this. These people live in this country; they are U.S. citizens or looking to be US citizens.
Counter-protests have also taken place against the militia
A strident protester against the mosque plans
"They are granted the rights and privileges of any citizen who lives here and there's nothing to keep them from wanting to live here and wanting to build their places of worship.
"As a Christian it's just wrong.”
The town manager expects the next meeting - on September 20 - to go ahead, with the moratorium on mosques to be lifted the following day.